COOL STARS 22
24–28 June 2024, San Diego, California, USA
The "Cambridge Workshops on Cool Stars, Stellar Systems and the Sun" are held biennially and have evolved to be the premier conference series for cool star research.
We are excited to announce that Cool Stars 23 will be held in Tokyo, Japan!
Conference Venue
The The meeting will be hosted at the University of California, San Diego campus. It is located in La Jolla, California, a short walk from the beach.
- blue marker: Conference venue
- glass: Pre-registration event on Sunday
- cutlery: Conference banquet on Thursday
- airplane: San Diego International Airport
Travel
Travel to San Diego
The San Diego International Airport (IATA-code: SAN) is served by a large number of US and international airlines. Direct flights are offered to most major US and many non-US airports. For non-direct flights, the Los Angeles International Airport (IATA-code: LAX) offers direct flights to many locations all over the world, located 193 km (120 mi) from San Diego.
Transport to the Conference Venue
Public transportation in San Diego is provided by the San Diego Metropolitan Transportation Services (MTS) (its website offers a journey planner with timetables for all bus, trolley, and metro services in San Diego). To reach the UC San Diego from the airport, there are several options:
- You can take the free flyer bus from the airport to the Old Town Transit Center trolley station.
- You can also take the MTS Bus lines 923 or 992 to nearby trolley stations.
- MTS Airport Help
- From the trolley station, you can take the northbound UC San Diego Blue Line trolley to get to the UC San Diego Central Campus stop. A single ride trolley fare is $2.5.
- A taxi (or Uber/Lyft) from the airport costs about $40-$50.
Popular US ride and ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft operate in San Diego and will service (pick-up and drop-off) the San Diego International Airport. The fees are typically ~$40-50 for single rides but can fluctuate due to the demand at the time. The option to automatically share a ride with other Uber/Lyft users will significantly reduce the price. In order to access these rides, you must install the app on your phone and have access to the internet. Creating an account through the app and registering your credit card is required for service since the drivers will not take cash or credit.
Getting around in the city
Public transportation in San Diego is provided by SDMTS. UCSD is a short ride from La Jolla, and about 25-30 minutes from downtown San Diego. The La Jolla beach and surrounding areas are easily accessible by walking.
Lodging / Hotels
There are a number of hotel options in the area and surrounding areas accessible with public transport. We give many options below, including potential on-campus options. Additionally, you can find suggestions and UCSD pricing here for many hotels.
| Hotel | Distance | Corporate Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sheraton La Jolla | 1.5 mi / 2.4 km | $249/night + tax, select Corp/Promo Code under the Special Rates drop down menu and enter: UC0. Or contact the hotel and mention the UCSD Cool Stars 22. |
| Hyatt Regency | 2.0 mi / 3.2 km | $259/night + tax, Group booking link. Or select Corporate or Group Code under the Special Rates drop down menu and enter: 86179. Or contact the hotel and mention the UCSD Cool Stars 22. |
| Best Western Premier Hotel Del Mar | 2.0 mi / 3.2 km | 25% off for attendees. Please contact 858-755-9765 and mention UCSD Astronomy and Astrophysics Department or Cool Stars 22 to book with the discounted price. Hotel has 7-seat shuttles to campus that runs Monday-Friday at 7:45am, 8:30am, and 9:15am. |
| Residence Inn San Diego La Jolla | 1.8 mi / 2.9 km | $329/night + tax, Group booking link. |
| Estancia Hotel | 1.6 mi / 2.6 km | $275/night + tax, Group booking link. Or use the group code: UCSDEL |
| Embassy Suites | 2.0 mi / 3.2 km | None |
| Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines | 2.2 mi / 2.5 km | None |
| La Jolla Shores Hotel | 4.2 mi / 6.8 km | None |
| San Diego Mariott La Jolla | 1.8 mi / 2.9 km | None |
UC San Diego is located north of downtown La Jolla. Many hotels are available in this area and can be found with any search engine or travel agency. The MTS trolley runs directly to campus and lodging along the route offer an efficient way of getting to campus quickly. There is also a central bus transportation hub on campus offering service for many bus lines throughout the region.
On-campus Housing
We will offer limited on-campus housing within the UC San Diego dormitories/apartments. Rooms are estimated to be between $130-$185 USD per night per person for both single and double occupancy (we cannot guarantee single rooms at this time), including 3 meals per day. If you are interested in on-campus housing you must indicate this on your registration. We will prioritize requests by registration date, with conference grantees having priority access. On-campus housing includes:
- 1 bed (either single or double occupancy)
- 1 set of bed linens
- 1 blanket
- 1 pillow
- 1 set of towels (refreshed upon request)
- clothing hangers*
- portable fans* (Note: there is no air conditioning in the dormitories)
- toiletries*
- 3 meals per day (limited dining options)
To see a representative example of the dormitories click here for a video. If you requested on-campus housing and received an offer and an invoice, all invoices must be paid by June 10, 2024 at 11:59PM Pacific Time to secure your housing.
On-campus Parking
We will be hosting Cool Stars 22 during the off season, between student terms, therefore we expect there to be ample parking during the conference. There is an underground parking garage directly underneath the conference venue. We are working on the most cost effective way to offer on-campus parking to participants who will be using it during the conference. If you wish to be included in our parking related updates please send an email to coolstars22sd@gmail.com.
Taking the Trolley from Hotel Circle
There are a number of lower rate hotel options at Hotel Circle south of campus. These hotels have easy access to UCSD campus using buses and the San Diego Trolley. The travel time from Hotel Circle to UCSD is approximately 1 hour, so make sure you plan accordingly.
Restaurants
Here is a map of dining and coffee near the UCSD conference venue. There are multiple restaurants on campus within a short walking distance of the venue offering a lot of variety in cuisine.
Pre-Registration and Conference Reception at the Birch Aquarium
We are hosting a pre-registration event at the Birch Aquarium. The Birch Aquarium serves as the public exploration center for the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the UC San Diego. Renowned for its stunning oceanfront setting and innovative exhibits, the aquarium offers visitors a unique window into the wonders of the underwater world. With sponsorship by the Heising-Simons Foundation we will offer all Cool Stars 22 attendees access to the Aquarium on Sunday night with appetizers and an open bar. This event will allow attendees to being networking before the conference begins.
Early Career Researcher Professional Development Event
With a generous donation from the Heising-Simons Foundation we have secured author, networking and career development expert Alaina G. Levine to provide a workshop for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) attending Cool Stars 22. This event is open to all ECRs who are able to attend (included in all levels of conference registration). This event will provide valuable advice for making the most of your Cool Stars experience. This event will take place from 3-6PM local time on Sunday 6/23.
Networking for Nerds: How to Create Your Unicorn Career in Cool Stars
How do I pick a career? How do I know what types of jobs are out there? How does networking help me achieve my scientific and professional goals, and what exactly is “networking”, anyway? In this workshop, we will focus on identifying career pathways and the mechanisms to get there, including tools to better facilitate career discovery and identification, and the landing of opportunities and jobs (like networking!). Participants will learn a process to find and explore careers and even create Your Unicorn Career, the customized, authentic career that brings you joy, meaning, and money. Learn how to build a career exploration plan that is aligned with your goals, values, and priorities, and leverages the power of networking, the most honorable endeavor in which you can engage. You will gain scripts for networking, discover how to reach out to new people e(both in person and virtually), and be able to practice networking with your fellow conference attendees. Let's create Your Unicorn Career!
Alaina G. Levine is a professional speaker, STEM career coach, corporate comedian, and author of 2 books: Networking for Nerds (Wiley), and Create Your Unicorn Career! (forthcoming). Levine has delivered close to 1000 speeches and webinars for clients in 15 nations and on 5 continents, and her hundreds of articles have appeared in Science, Nature, Scientific American, National Geographic News Watch, World Economic Forum, and Smithsonian, including her column, “Your Unicorn Career”. She is a regular contractor with the American Astronomical Society where she delivers webinars, workshops, and career coaching for members. Levine studied at the American University in Cairo as a US Department of Defense Boren Fellow, and holds bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and anthropology from the University of Arizona, where as a student, she competed in national billiards tournaments under her moniker, Lady Dyn-o-mite.
Banquet at the San Diego Zoo
The Cool Stars 22 Banquet will be held at the the world–renowned San Diego Zoo. It is approximately a 35-55 minute bus/car ride from the conference venue to the Zoo which is located in Balboa Park. We expect most participants will utilize our chartered bus service, which is included in the cost of the banquet, however, there is ample parking at the Zoo if you decide to use your own transport. Buses will load on Thursday at ~3:30 PM to arrive by 4:15 PM, at which time all attendees will have admission to the entire Zoo as part of their banquet ticket. The banquet will begin at ~7:00 PM in the Zoofari Party Area.
Visa Information for International Participants
International visitors who present an oral talk, poster, or an exhibit and whose country does not participate in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program may request a letter of participation from coolstars22sd@gmail.com for a B1 Visa for Business in a timely manner. When requesting a letter of participation, please provide presentation information and full contact information (telephone and mailing address).
Others who do not meet the above criteria but need a visa for entry may apply for the same Visitor Visa except it will be for the Visa for Tourism-Pleasure (B2 Visa). No support letter from CS22 is required.
For more information and guidance regarding the Visitor Visa program, please read: Directory of Visa Categories.